Scene: On the second day of both the NCAA basket­ball tournament and the NCAA wrestling champion­ships, my friend and I wanted to escape down­town for lunch. So we headed to G Mig’s, a small bar and grill in Valley Junction. Turns out, the crowd was just as robust. Businessmen, ladies lunching, older sports fans and all walks of life were cheering, eating and drinking at 1 p.m. We found the only open spot (two seats at the end of the bar) and our friendly server told us it wasn’t just the time of year — this is a normal lunch at G Mig’s.

Food: George Migliero opened G Mig’s (formerly Giff Wagner’s) last July. He went to culinary school and trained under some Michelin-starred chefs, so he knows what he’s doing. You’ll find a handful of sandwiches and appetizers that are a little above regular bar food. Think crab cakes instead of jalapeno poppers. He also has a roasted pear salad listed if you’re in the mood for what I assume is a delic­ious, lighter experience.

But I had saved up my calories for the week and went for it — George’s prime rib burger ($8.75). And dear readers, it was worth every calorie. This burger of beauty came topped with caramelized onions, sliced portobello mushrooms, gooey aged white cheddar cheese and a horseradish sauce that added just the right amount of tang. The bun was a perfectly grilled masterpiece as well. My only complaint was having to give the sandwich a good five minutes to cool off at the table — the thing was hot to the touch.

I also couldn’t turn down a cup of the soup of the day — clam chowder. I would definitely put it in my top three chowders in town.

My friend ordered the Italian ham and provolone flatbread ($8.50) with a side of pasta salad. It came topped with tons of fresh veggies and was dressed in a balsamic vinaigrette. Definitely a fork-and-knife kind of sandwich but also delicious.

On the clock: The place was packed from the moment we walked in (around 12:45 p.m.) until we left. But we got in and out in about an hour.

Bottom line: Go to G Mig’s now. There are lunch specials Tuesday through Friday and nightly specials every night but Sunday (check out its website, www.gmigs.com, for updates). The crowd isn’t going anywhere, so if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

Bonus: The women’s restroom smelled really nice, and there is a TV in there!